Understanding the Polycrisis: A Recap with Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon

By Quinn Martindale ’27, Resident Editor; Edited by Rebecca Liu ’25, Head Editor-in-Chief

In this article, The Tiger Times got to sit down with Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon, recapping with him about politics, tariffs, and all the work he and the Cascade Institute are doing about it.

The following is a transcription of the interview with Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon. It has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

Quinn: My first question is, how did this career of research and analysis on such a high level appeal to you?

Dr. Homer-Dixon: I've always been really interested in conflict, like mass violence, war, civil instability, terrorism, genocide, revolutions, rebellions, and all that stuff. For some reason, it's always interested me greatly. I've also had a long-standing interest in environmental issues stemming from my childhood. My parents were avid outdoor lovers who spent a lot of time on Vancouver Island. These two issues, conflict and the environment have motivated me from the time I was young, and when I was doing my undergraduate degree at Carleton University, I focused almost all my papers and essays on conflict, trying to understand the nature of war, especially the international strategic arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. In graduate school at MIT, I combined these interests, studying how environmental stress like resource scarcity and climate change could trigger conflict worldwide. That work went on for a long period of time, throughout the 1990s into the 2000s, but I realized that there was more than just environmental stuff, there was a whole bunch of complex issues happening in the world that were entangled with each other, relating to technological change, the restructuring of economies, and population growth.

Quinn: What is the concern of this? What is the point of understanding how these conflicts relate to one another?

Dr. Homer-Dixon: Well, it leads to deepening social divisions and the polarization between groups. The Cascade Institute is working on a project on global stress analysis, trying to identify what the stresses are in our world, how they connect together, how they undermine societies, how they weaken economies, and then potentially how that increases the probability of violence, and most importantly, what we can do about that. So, with this and the background knowledge I talked about when visiting Ridley, I think you've got a pretty good picture of how we're approaching things.

Quinn: I would agree. Next, how can young people, especially high school students, start to inform themselves about these stresses and these crises to make a positive impact?

Dr. Homer-Dixon: Well, first, there are things we can do in our individual lives to reduce our environmental impact, push back against racism, and address conflict. Everyone doing their part makes a difference, even if it seems small. Acting also helps us feel less powerless against these issues. Professionally, it doesn’t matter what field you choose—accounting, medicine, engineering, or the arts— there’s always meaningful work to do. The key is to develop expertise in one area but not stop there. The world is interconnected, so the best solutions come from combining knowledge across disciplines. For example, at the Cascade Institute, experts from different fields of geophysics, drilling, energy modelling, democracy, and disinformation collaborate to solve complex problems. These intersections are where real solutions emerge. So, the goal is to master one area, then expand outward to integrate new ideas and solve problems effectively.

Quinn: Awesome! Now, what would you say to young people who are seeing what is going on in the news and feel really overwhelmed?

Dr. Homer-Dixon: The world is no longer as predictable as it was for previous generations, where people could follow a stable career path, save for retirement, and settle into a defined role. Instead, we are living in a time of constant change, with ongoing crises and disruptions. Whether it’s political instability, economic shifts, or global crises, unpredictability is the new normal. We can either fear this uncertainty or embrace it by becoming adaptable, flexible, and proactive problem-solvers. The key is not to define yourself by a rigid role but by your ability to learn, evolve, and combine skills in new ways. Expanding your expertise, staying informed, and collaborating with others across different fields will be essential. While some may long for a stable, predictable world, that’s no longer a reality. Instead, success will come from those who are willing to continuously learn, seek new opportunities, and creatively respond to challenges. Societies will need innovative thinkers to navigate these transitions, and by staying adaptable, we can help shape a better future. It means honest hope for the future.

Quinn: Finally, what do you think students, especially Ridley students, can do to support the Cascade Institute and help carry on the work they do?

Dr. Homer-Dixon: You never know where a good idea will come from, so we welcome feedback and ideas from anyone. If something valuable is incorporated into our work, the contributor will receive credit, which is exciting. For those interested in how we think about the world, the Cascade Institute website has short introductory videos on the complexity theory we have been working on. These six- to eight-minute videos provide useful tools for understanding complex systems and engaging with our work. We also have a blog called Chalkboard, where ongoing discussions take place. If Ridley students want to participate, we could feature their contributions there. I’m happy to engage directly or connect you with our communications officer to ensure ideas are shared. The questions you're asking are important and part of a larger public conversation that many people care about.

If you are interested in learning more about Dr. Homer-Dixon and his work with the Cascade Institute, check out https://cascadeinstitute.org/ to learn more. If you have any inquiries and think you have some good ideas or want to learn more about the poly-crisis, visit https://chalkboard.cascadeinstitute.org/ to interact with the Cascade Institute directly.

A big thanks to Dr. Homer-Dixon for agreeing to our interview and for providing his insightful comments!